London has been battered by 50mph winds that have felled trees and caused travel chaos. Powerful gusts swept across the capital as the Met Office issued a yellow "be aware" weather alert for most of the country.

Fernando Torres fired Chelsea into the quarter-finals of the Europa League but also missed a penalty as last season's Champions League winners overcame Steaua Bucharest 3-1 in the last-16 clash at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea had to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit to progress and levelled the tie through Juan Mata after 33 minutes, only for Vlad Chiriches to score on the stroke of half-time when the Blues failed to clear a corner.

The away goal meant Chelsea needed to score twice to be included in Friday's last-eight draw and captain John Terry headed in after 58 minutes and Torres netted after 71 minutes to seal victory - before the Spaniard hit the bar with an 87th-minute penalty.

The hosts took the direct route to open the scoring. Mata picked up the ball inside the Steaua half in the right channel and ran at his marker. The Spaniard played the ball inside to Ramires, who continued running at the defence before playing a return pass.

While Torres moved out of the way, Mata used his body to shield the ball from Iasmin Latovlevici and his shot squirmed in under Ciprian Tatarusanu. From the last move of the first half, Steaua restored their advantage.

The set-piece was played to the near post and a scramble ensued inside the six-yard box, with Cristian Tanase's shot smartly saved by Petr Cech, who could do nothing about the rebound as Chiriches fired into the roof of the net. Chelsea needed two goals in the second half and the first came after Cornel Rapa fouled Eden Hazard.

Mata delivered towards Terry. The skipper's powers may have been reduced by age and niggling injury, but when left unmarked he remains a potent force and his header from 10 yards went in off the post.

Cech saved a dipping shot from Alexandru Chipciu before Mata set up the third goal Chelsea needed.

He cut in from the right, Hazard stepped over the left-footed cross and Torres picked up the ball. The striker stepped around Lukasz Szukata and netted low across goal.

Chelsea were awarded a penalty when Hazard was caught by Alexandru Bourceanu. Torres stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way - but his shot hit the top of the crossbar. Fortunately for the hosts he had already done enough to secure a place in the quarter-finals.